Hissing, growling, and shrieking filled the air, sending shivers down Christiana's spine. As she heard the sound once more, she jolted awake, disoriented and confused. Gazing around, Christiana's eyes widened in disbelief as she realized she was trapped in what appeared to be a deep pit. Looking down, her heart racing, she noticed she was surrounded by a swarm of snake-like creatures - serpent-like beings with wings, four piercing eyes, and razor-sharp tails.
Christiana's instinct kicked in, and she powered up, attempting to leap out of the pit. However, the higher she rose, the more her vital life force, or "ka," was drained, causing her to plummet back down to the ground. Struggling to catch her breath, Christiana wondered what was happening, her consciousness slowly slipping away as her life force continued to be sapped from her body.
As Christiana slowly opened her eyes, the bright sunlight filtering through the trees above made her squint. Blinking a few times, she took in her surroundings, her mind racing to figure out where she was. She found herself lying on a bed made of leaves, the cool shade and the warmth from the nearby campfire providing a perfect balance.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a melodious flute in the distance. Her curiosity was piqued, and she scanned the area to identify the source of the music. And then, her eyes fell on a woman sitting high up in a tree, playing the flute with remarkable skill. With a surge of determination, Christiana leaped up from her leafy bed, ready to fight if need be. However, the woman looked at her and smiled, putting her at ease.
"Is this how you humans repay those who saved your life?" the woman asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Saved...," Christiana murmured as she tried to piece together what had happened.
And then, it all came flooding back to her. The pit of snake-like creatures, the draining of her ka, and her confusion and fear. It was then that she realized that this woman had saved her from certain death
Christiana powered down and introduced herself, grateful for the kindness and protection that had been extended to her.
"Thanks for saving me. I am Christiana," she said, with a sense of relief in her voice.
With a graceful leap, the woman jumped down from the tree. Christiana observed that she was dressed in a striking red attire, which complemented her dusky skin and jet-black hair. The woman introduced herself as Maho, and Christiana felt an instant connection with her.
Maho explained that she had found Christiana in the nest of Ammit snakes, creatures that feed on ka, which is why she couldn't escape the pit. Christiana felt a shudder run down her spine at the thought of being devoured by those terrifying creatures Maho, noticing Christiana's discomfort, reassured her that she was safe now As Maho spoke, Christiana felt a sense of wonder and amazement. She realized that she was in a place unlike any she had ever seen before and that she had much to learn about this world and its inhabitants.
Completely taken aback by what she heard, Christiana asked Maho where she was. In response, Maho told her that she was in Gehenna, a realm that is off-limits to humans, and that very few of them ever survive passing through the gate.
Christiana was shocked to hear this but felt grateful for being alive. However, Maho warned her that surviving in Gehenna without proper training would be impossible. She needed to be strong and skilled to survive in this strange world.
Maho then asked Christiana how she had ended up in Gehenna. As Christiana sat down with Maho, she explained everything to her, from the visions of her grandmother to the strange portal that had transported her to this world.
Maho listened patiently, and then offered to train Christiana, to help her become stronger and better equipped to navigate the dangers of Gehenna. Christiana felt grateful for Maho's kindness and eagerly accepted her offer.
With that, the two of them set out on a journey of discovery and training. Christiana felt excited and nervous at the same time, but she knew that with Maho's guidance, she would be able to navigate the strange and treacherous world of Gehenna.